Shelterpoint: Private Insurer Or Public Provider?

ShelterPoint, founded in 1972, is an insurance company that provides group policies for employers. The company is licensed to sell life insurance in all 50 states and is currently New York's largest carrier of statutory short-term disability insurance. ShelterPoint also offers statutory benefits in several other states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The company has been approved as a private plan carrier for New Jersey's Temporary Disability Insurance since 2003. With a focus on statutory benefits, ShelterPoint helps employers navigate state-mandated requirements and provides expertise in specific areas such as short-term disability insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave coverage.

ShelterPoint's history and products

ShelterPoint, formerly First Rehab Life, was founded in 1972 and is located in Garden City, New York. It is a private insurer and is currently New York's largest statutory short-term disability insurance carrier, also known as NY DBL. ShelterPoint has been providing statutory disability insurance in New York for over 45 years, and more than 160,000-184,000 New York employers trust them to help balance compliance, coverage, and cost for their DBL/PFL requirements.

In 2014, ShelterPoint Life acquired ShelterPoint Insurance Company (formerly JM Insurance Company, a Florida-domiciled carrier). Together, the ShelterPoint Family of Companies is licensed in 50 jurisdictions and insures more than 1.9 million members. They offer a range of group benefits, including dental, vision, hospital cash, and medical gap insurance.

ShelterPoint is also an approved private plan carrier for New Jersey's Temporary Disability Insurance (NJ TDI) and has been since 2003. The company provides Paid Family and Medical Leave coverage in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. They are rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best.

ShelterPoint's core product is statutory insurance, and they have deep expertise in statutory insurance coverages both inside and outside of New York State. They are ranked #1 in New York for statutory short-term disability premiums and #6 nationwide by NAIC for total short-term disability lives covered.

ShelterPoint offers a variety of statutory and non-statutory benefits. Their statutory benefits include paid family and medical leave, statutory disability insurance, New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI), and New York Disability Benefits Law (DBL). Their non-statutory employee benefits include 24-hour accident insurance, short-term disability insurance, dental PPO insurance, vision insurance, and medical gap insurance.

Pros and cons of ShelterPoint

ShelterPoint is a private insurer that has been in business since 1972. It is New York's largest carrier of statutory short-term disability insurance and is an approved private plan carrier for New Jersey's state disability program. The company also provides paid family and medical leave coverage in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Here are some pros and cons of ShelterPoint:

Pros:

• ShelterPoint is the leading provider of statutory short-term disability benefits in New York, with expertise in providing certain statutory benefits.
• The company offers 24/7 online claim reporting and access to claim information.
• ShelterPoint is rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, indicating strong financial strength.
• ShelterPoint has a robust social media presence and can be reached via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• The company has been in the business for decades and has deep expertise in statutory insurance coverages, both in and outside of New York State.

Cons:

• ShelterPoint has limited product offerings and does not provide extended customer service hours.
• The company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
• ShelterPoint's website is very basic and technical, with a lack of information about non-statutory products and how to perform basic tasks.
• Customer satisfaction reviews for ShelterPoint are mostly negative, with complaints about delays in receiving payments and disorganization.

ShelterPoint's customer service

ShelterPoint, formerly First Rehab Life, is a private insurer offering life insurance and statutory disability insurance. It was founded in 1972 and is located in Garden City, New York. ShelterPoint is the largest carrier of statutory short-term disability insurance in New York and has been an approved private plan carrier for New Jersey's state disability program since 2003.

Customer Service

• General customer service by phone, email, fax, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram).
• 24/7 online claim reporting and access to claim information via their website or mobile app.
• A variety of resources for the claims process, including checklists, toolkits, and downloadable claim forms.

However, one of the cons of ShelterPoint is limited customer service hours, and the company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Contact Information

The contact information for ShelterPoint is as follows:

Address: 1225 Franklin Avenue, Ste. 475, Garden City, NY

Phone Number: 516-82908100

ShelterPoint's claims process

ShelterPoint, formerly First Rehabilitation Insurance Company of America, is a private insurer founded in 1972 and located in Garden City, New York. It is New York's largest carrier of statutory short-term disability insurance and is an approved private plan carrier for New Jersey's statutory disability program. ShelterPoint also provides Paid Family and Medical Leave coverage in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

ShelterPoint offers a straightforward and accessible claims process for its customers. Here is an overview of the key steps and features:

• Filing a Claim: Claims can be submitted to ShelterPoint online, or by email, fax, or mail. The company provides a checklist to guide customers through the process of online claim submission.
• Claim Management: Once a claim is submitted, customers can conveniently manage their claims 24/7 through the ShelterPoint website or mobile app. This allows customers to stay updated and take any necessary actions to ensure the smooth processing of their claim.
• Claim Status and Eligibility: After receiving a claim number, customers can access detailed information about their claim status and eligibility for benefit payments. This includes the ability to view current claim status, upload additional documents, and see when the next check will be sent.
• Non-Digital Claims: For claims that cannot be filed online, ShelterPoint offers comprehensive support. They provide claims toolkits, step-by-step instruction checklists, and downloadable claim forms to assist customers in navigating the claims process efficiently.
• Disability Claim Response Timeframe: ShelterPoint provides an approximate claim response timeframe for disability benefits. If a claim is approved, the customer will typically receive their first benefit payment within a calendar week of ShelterPoint receiving the completed claim. Thereafter, benefit payments are made every 2 weeks for up to a maximum of 26 weeks, depending on the condition.
• Customer Service: ShelterPoint offers customer support through various channels, including phone, email, fax, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. However, their customer service hours are not specified, and some customers have noted delays in receiving responses.

Overall, ShelterPoint's claims process is designed to be accessible and user-friendly, providing multiple avenues for customers to submit and manage their claims. The company's expertise in statutory benefits ensures that customers can navigate the often complex world of insurance claims with relative ease.

ShelterPoint's financial strength

ShelterPoint is a private insurer that offers group policies for employers. It was founded in 1972 as "The First Rehabilitation Insurance Company of America" (First Rehab) and has grown into New York's largest carrier of statutory short-term disability insurance. ShelterPoint is also an approved private plan carrier for New Jersey's state disability program and provides Paid Family and Medical Leave coverage in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

The company has a strong financial strength rating, which indicates its ability to pay out claims and meet its financial obligations. ShelterPoint has been rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, a credit rating agency dedicated to the insurance industry. This rating reflects the company's financial stability and is a crucial factor in assessing its reliability.

In 2020, ShelterPoint had nearly $300 million in annual premiums, demonstrating its significant financial resources. The company's financial strength is further evident in its ability to insure more than 1.9 million members. ShelterPoint's financial stability is a key advantage, ensuring that its customers can rely on their insurance coverage when needed.

In addition to its financial strength, ShelterPoint also stands out for its expertise in providing certain statutory benefits. The company has deep knowledge of statutory insurance coverages, both within and outside New York State. This expertise helps employers navigate the complex world of compliance, coverage, and cost. ShelterPoint's experience and financial stability make it a trusted partner for businesses seeking comprehensive and reliable insurance solutions.

Frequently asked questions